Feeding Question

[PlumpChicken]

I have a mixed flock of about 13 week old pullets

Jersey Giants (1 of which turned out to be a rooster) - Didn't realize until he started crowing
Buff Orpington
Mystic Maran (best guess)
Barred Rocks
Rhode Island Red
Silverlaced Wyandotte
Black Sex Link
Pearl Star Leghorn

I am going to implement the feeding grower and having oyster shells on the side to supplement calcium. I am wondering how in the heck a hen knows... "I'm low on calcium... I better peck this white stuff" Any ideas on how that works??

 

[Folly's place]

I have no idea how she knows to eat more calcium, but it's a good thing she does know!
Mary

 

[PlumpChicken]

I have no idea how she knows to eat more calcium, but it's a good thing she does know!
Mary

How do we know that she knows? Are they randomly eating it or are they eating the correct amount?

 

[Doc7]

I have a mixed flock of about 13 week old pullets

Jersey Giants (1 of which turned out to be a rooster) - Didn't realize until he started crowing
Buff Orpington
Mystic Maran (best guess)
Barred Rocks
Rhode Island Red
Silverlaced Wyandotte
Black Sex Link
Pearl Star Leghorn

I am going to implement the feeding grower and having oyster shells on the side to supplement calcium. I am wondering how in the heck a hen knows... "I'm low on calcium... I better peck this white stuff" Any ideas on how that works??

same way you know when you’re hungry for carbs vs fat vs protein, or a Red Bull, a cup of coffee, or a cigarette.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I am wondering how in the heck a hen knows... "I'm low on calcium... I better peck this white stuff" Any ideas on how that works??

I don't know. I feed my hens a Non-medicated Starter-Grower and offer Oyster Shells and Poultry Grit, each in separate containers and they consume way more Shells than Grit.

I always keep them in the same spot, I don't switch positions.
When I used to feed a Layers feed the Shells lasted about 3 times longer than they do now. A 5 lb bag lasted 5 Pullets/Hens 11 months when fed Layers.

How do we know that she knows? Are they randomly eating it or are they eating the correct amount?

Here's eggs from 5 days collection, no soft Shells. My 4 hens are 22 months old. . GC

 

[Folly's place]

Most hens will manage very well, eating less Ca if fed a layer feed only, and more if eating an all flock or chick feed.
Poultry nutrition is a very well studied science, which I had some of in college, but don't know what feeding trials were run exactly. High egg producing laying hens are living on the edge metabolically, and need everything to be 'just right' or they will have many more problems than usual.
Mary

 

[PlumpChicken]

same way you know when you’re hungry for carbs vs fat vs protein, or a Red Bull, a cup of coffee, or a cigarette.

AHAHAHA

 

[PlumpChicken]

I don't know. I feed my hens a Non-medicated Starter-Grower and offer Oyster Shells and Poultry Grit, each in separate containers and they consume way more Shells than Grit.View attachment 2199420
I always keep them in the same spot, I don't switch positions.
When I used to feed a Layers feed the Shells lasted about 3 times longer than they do now. A 5 lb bag lasted 5 Pullets/Hens 11 months when fed Layers.

Here's eggs from 5 days collection, no soft Shells. My 4 hens are 22 months old. View attachment 2199438. GC

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!